Coroner calls for GPs to be allowed to order urgent CT scans after patient death

A coroner has demanded a change in rules that stop NHS GPs in some areas ordering urgent computerised tomography (CT) scans, after the death of a 37 year old woman from a brain tumour.

Lisa Hashmi, area coroner for Manchester North, gave the warning in a report sent to Bury clinical commissioning group on the death of Elaine Talbot, whose brain tumour was missed by her GP and hospital doctors. Coroners have a statutory duty to send a report to the person or institution they believe should take action, if the evidence shows a risk …